Learning at the Library

Australia's premier public research library contains millions of items, ranging from significant colonial paintings to striking digital photographs; manuscript maps to the latest remote-sensing images; traditional music recordings and oral history interviews with Australians from all walks of life; publications in all formats from the earliest hand-printed books, newspapers and magazines, to millions of archived web pages.

The Library is an ideal destination for teachers with primary or secondary school-aged students exploring Information and Communication Technology, Australian History and Culture, Civics and Citizenship. To assist groups in the use of this rich resource, fun informative events, workshops, presentations and tours are available to support all curriculum topics.

Students learn the role of the National Library as a collecting institution

Getting started

If you are visiting for the first time see our page for new users, and explore resources in our Reading Rooms. If you want to take a quick look around the building, and see its facilities and artwork, visit the online image gallery.

Reader education

Reader Education are special sessions conducted regularly for new National Library users. These sessions help readers to use the Library's website and collections, request books from home, as well as effectively search the catalogue and link to online resources in the Library.

School programs and tours

Find out about the range of different school programs and tours available for visiting primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities

General public tours of the National Library's unique exhibitions and secret librarian's business behind the scenes are also available for members of the public

Learning about the newspaper collection

Planning your school visit

In an effort to make your visit to the National Library of Australia as enjoyable and beneficial as possible for, please read and consider this information before making a group booking to visit the Library's reading rooms, collection areas or exhibition gallery.

For teachers

Teacher’s know-how: Library skill sessions

  • availabilty: we visit you - you pick the day and time!
  • bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • cost: free to schools, at your place or ours

Incorporate a morning at the Library into your schools PD opportunities in 2008. Contact education staff at the Library to find reader education presentations are on offer and can be tailored for your school requirements.

Interpreting Shakespeare: A Free Forum

An opportunity for teachers to observe new ideas and innovative ways to entertain, educate and inspire primary and secondary students when teaching Shakespeare. Guest speakers from ACT Department of Education with Bell Shakespeare’s creative team.

Teacher Exhibition Preview Evenings

  • availabilty: Thursday 27 November, 4 – 6pm
  • bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Theatre
  • cost: free

Annual Teachers' Christmas Party

Enjoy a glass of wine, relax and learn about education programs, special collections, and new exhibition Brutal Tender Human Animal - Roger Ballen photography by Roger Ballen.

Teacher's preview manuscript materials

For students

Student day: researching Indigenous Australian topics

  • availabilty: Friday 28 March 2009, 10.30 am - noon
  • cost and bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location:Conference Room and Training Rooms

An opportunity to examine primary resources available in the Library's collection and how they can be utilised to explore critical issues in Australia's history. Suitable for secondary students.

Students explore the newspaper stack

Digital discovery

Increasingly, cultural expression in Australia is in digital form. Focus on learning with online information from the National Library. Visit the Library's digital collections to discover James Cook's Endeavour journal, Prime Minister Edmund Barton's papers, early Australian newspapers, scores for Waltzing Matilda and Advance Australia Fair, early Dutch charts of Terra Australis, and designs illustrating Walter Burley Griffin's vision for Canberra.

For online education and information, use the many digital resources available through and supported by the National Library of Australia. Many sources are available to help you - published books, original documents, maps, photographs, pictures, sound, film and internet.

For kids and families

For more information about the Library's program of school holiday events, fun films, games and activities for children and families join our mailing list education@nla.gov.au. Explore the current exhibition Bridging the distance with our room brochure and children's activity sheet.

Be a library detective! 

Family trail

A new children’s trail is designed to lead children and families through the Library’s artworks and the reading rooms. Collect your free copy at reception.

Storytelling (ages 4-5)

  • availabilty: Wednesday 1 & 8 October, & 13 August, 10.30 – 11.15 am
  • bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Brindabella Room
  • cost: Gold coin donation

A captivating morning for young children, with songs, stories and craft, inspired by Australian children's authors. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Cool Librarians (ages 6-8)

  • availabilty: Tuesday 30 September, 11 am – 12.30 pm
  • bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Brindabella Room
  • cost: $5

Meet Prue Theroux the very cool library, find out about Decimal Dewey's great idea, and discover all the things Librarians do in this huge Library.

 

Spring has Sprung (ages 6-8)

  • availabilty: Friday 10 October, 11 am – 12.30 pm
  • bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Brindabella Room
  • cost: $10

Be inspired by the Library's Pictures Collection to create your own floral artworks and carte-de-visites in watercolour and mixed media botanical specimens.

Bushrangers get booked (ages 8-12)

  • availabilty: Thursday 2 and 9 October, 11 am – 12.30pm
  • bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Brindabella Room
  • cost: $10

Stagecoach heists, narrow escapes and other stories of infamous bushrangers and bandits are all recorded in the Library's Collection. See Ben Hall's gun, Captain Moonlite's lantern and evidence to help you re-enact moments of crime!

Ben Hall revolver

Design a bookplate (ages 8-12)

  • availabilty: Friday 23 January. 2009, 10am – 12pm
  • bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Brindabella Room
  • cost: $10

Explore the Library's extensive collection of bookplate illustrations before designing your very own.

Spring school holiday films

Young Einstein (1988), 91 mins, PG

  • availabilty: Wednesday 1 October, 2pm
  • bookings: RSVP to join our mailing list for kids' activities: education@nla.gov.au
  • location: Theatre
  • cost: gold coin donation

The adventures of Albert, son of a Tasmanian apple farmer, who discovers the secret of splitting the beer atom to put the bubbles back into beer.

 

Blinky Bill, the mischievious koala (1992) 92 mins, G, animation

  • availabilty: Wednesday 8 October, 1.30pm
  • bookings: RSVP to join our mailing list for kids' activities: education@nla.gov.au
  • location: Theatre
  • cost: gold coin donation

The musical story about Blinky Bill's childhood and his animal friends in the bush.

 

 

Crocodile Dundee (1986), 98 mins, PG

  • availabilty: Thursday 9 October, 2pm
  • bookings: RSVP to join our mailing list for kids' activities - education@nla.gov.au
  • cost: Theatre
  • cost: gold coin donation

Comedy and adventure combine when Mick "Crocodile" Dundee, a croc hunter in the Australian outback, meets Sue, a New York journalist.

 

For teens

Drawing with the camera obscura

  • availabilty: Tuesday 28 January 2009, 2 – 5 pm, Conference Room
  • bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Brindabella Room
  • cost: $90 per session

Artist David Hodges explores the uses of this unique drawing device. The workshop includes examples and demonstrations. Cameras and some materials supplied. For ages 12 years and over.

For adults

Whether you want to learn something new or participate in fun social activities and entertainment, the Library offers exciting events and activities. Find out what's on and select from our listing of workshops, talks, lectures, films and performances, conferences available throughout 2008, as well as our exhibition program.

Text Stage Screen: Titus Andronicus

  • availabilty: Tuesday 7 October, 12.30 – 1.15pm followed by film (162 mins)
  • bookings:02 6262 1207 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Theatre
  • cost: free

Theatre stalwarts Michael Gow and John Bell discuss the translation of Shakespeare's historical play into contemporary stage and film productions, followed by a screening of the 1999 Julie Taymor film Titus Andronicus (rated R – for 18 years and over).

John Bell


Following this forum, Michael Gow directs John Bell in the title role of Bell Shakespeare's Anatomy Titus Fall Of Rome: A Shakespeare Commentary by Heiner Müller, playing at Canberra Theatre Centre 8 - 18 October.

Making easy photo albums

  • availabilty: Saturday 21 March 2009, 10.30 am - 4.30 pm
  • bookings: 02 6262 1207 or bookings@nla.gov.au
  • location: Brindabella Room
  • cost: $210.00/ Friends of the Library $180

Artist David Hodges teaches you to make a range of small, stitched albums suitable for photographs, using simple elegant Japanese techniques. Includes demonstrations and some materials. A workshop in assocation with

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